No appeals of Lake Cochituate plant program

Thursday

Apr 24, 2014 at 11:30 PMApr 24, 2014 at 11:30 PM

By Brian BensonDaily News Staff

NATICK – No one appealed a Conservation Commission decision that allows the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to use physical and chemical means to combat nuisance vegetation such as milfoil on Natick's part of Lake Cochituate and Fiske Pond.The deadline to appeal to the state Department of Environmental Protection was Wednesday."It’s a sign of how far the process has come" Conservation Commission Chairman Matthew Gardner said. "Over the past years people have really had an opportunity to say their pieces. It’s given us an opportunity to really stitch together a solution that’s acceptable. ... We’re not happy to be in a situation where we have to be managing weeds in the lake."People have in the past filed appeals because they were concerned how the chemical treatment may affect wells.The commission earlier this month approved an order of conditions, which covers five years. Conditions include public notification of chemical treatments, an opt-out provision for people who do not want herbicide applied by their house, a buffer zone around wells where herbicide will not be used and testing of lake water and water from nearby wells. Chemical treatment cannot be done in areas where plant cover is 5 percent or less, among other conditions.Several local groups came together asking DCR to improve the plant situation.Anne Carroll, director of DCR’s Office of Water Resources, said some people have told her they would have appealed if they did not have the ability to opt-out.Carroll said treatment would likely begin around mid-June, though an exact schedule depends on plant development. Crews need to survey plant density and present specific treatment plans to the commission before beginning.Carroll said reducing nuisance vegetation in the lake should allow native species to thrive that are currently crowded out. It will also improve swimming and reduce the chance of vegetation spreading by boats to other lakes, DCR staff have said.Diquat, which DCR plans to use, is approved for use in lakes as close to wells as Lake Cochituate is but Carroll said the buffer zone provides additional protection.Ann Karnofsky, a Natick resident who opposes use of herbicides in the lake, said protecting drinking water wells is more important than enhancing recreational uses of the lake. She said she thought it would be very difficult to appeal something a town board supported.Natick’s Board of Health is planning to discuss Lake Cochituate treatment at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday at Town Hall.Public Health Director James White said the board hopes to meet with the Conservation Commission about the topic at some point. Gardner said he is open to meeting with the Board of Health as well.White said the board did not appeal because it did not have enough information or time to form an opinion on treatment that White said could end up being fine.Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.

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